Mine and torpedo guard for vessels.



Patented May 28, 1918;

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

J. E. RUZYCKI.

MINE AND TORPEDO GUARD FOR VESSELYS.

APPLICATlON FILED AUG.20. 1917.

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MINE AND TORPEDO GUARD FOR VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20. 1911.

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JOSEPH E. RUZYGKI, OF IIOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH T0CONSTANT WOLSKI, OF I-IOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MINE AN D TORPEDO GUARD FOR VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, Third.

Application filed August 20, 1917. Serial No. 187,040.

the presence of submerged mines in their.

immediate vicinity and to protect such ships or vessels from torpedoesdischarged at them by submarines; and said invention resides in afloating frame or cage equipped with propelling and steering means, andadapted to open to receive and surround a vessel or to permit suchvessel to leave such cage or the, latter to depart from the former, asthe case may be; mine-catching means at the front end of said cage, withwhich means an alarm is associated or connected; a plurality ofartridges and discharging mechanisms therefor carried by said cage, andelectric means whereby a torpedo in coming into contact with one or moreof certain members of said cage, which are in the path of such torpedoand between the latter and the hull of a vessel ithin the cage, causesadjacent cartridges to be discharged, with the result that thepercussion or primarily-explosive head or nose of such torpedo is cutoif or destroyed, the onrush of said torpedo is checked, and theexplosion of the torpedo is either aborted altogether or produced at apoint sufiiciently remote from said hull to avoid seriously damaging thesame, all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a protector or guardfor ships or vessels,whereby the same are saved from submerged mines andtorpedoes from submarines, such guard being an independent element, thatis, an element which does not form part of and is not attached directlyto a vessel, but is capable of being employed in connection with anyvessel and any number of vessels separately, assuming that none of suchvessels exceeds the capacity of said guard.

\Vith this guard in place around a vessel, the presence of a mine in thevessels course is detected and such mine caught in time to prevent anexplosion, the mine being dragged along in the water wlthoutexplodvessel.

ing,after the alarm has sounded or while it is sounding, vessel can bestopped, when said mine or its float chain is disconnected from theguard and the mine either hauled on board the vessel or permitted tosink to the bottom of the ocean; and a torpedo discharged at said vesselis destroyed before it reaches the This guard, being adapted for orapplicable to any number of vessels within a cerand until the guard andthe f tain maximum size, is economically superior,

of course, to a guard or protector that is directly and intimatelyunited with and to a greater or less extent forms a part of the vessel,and is, moreover, superior in point of safet Other objects andadvantages will appear in the course of the following description.

A preferred embodiment of my invention,

whereby I attain the objects and secure the advantages of the same, isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, and I will proceed to describesaid invention with reference to said drawings, although it is to beunderstood that the form, construction, arrangement, etc, of the partsin various aspects are not material and may be modified withoutdeparture from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughoutthe several views, Figure 1 is a top plan of a guard which embodies apractical form of my invention as aforesaid, the cage ofthe guard beingrepresented in full lines as closed about a vessel, which latter isinchcated in outline, and being represented in broken lines as open forthe passage out of such vessel or the passage away from the latter ofsaid cage, as the case may be, and as is necessary when a vessel entersthe cage or said cage is propelled into position to inclose said vessel;Fig. 2, an enlarged top plan of a portion of the mine catcher and alarmsystem; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail, partly in elevation and partly insection, of the propelling and steering mechanism for one side of theguard, taken on lines 83, looking in the direction of the associatedarrow, in Fig. 4;; Fig. 4, a cross section through one of the pilothouses on the case, showing in top plan the contents thereof; Fig. 5, aperspective view of a fragmentary portion of the guard, illustrating oneway in which the torpedo may be destroyed when it strikes said guard;

ranged for engagement at'12, whenthe gates,

the direction of the associated arrow, Fig. 10, and, Fig. 10, anenlargedsideelevat on ofa portion of one side portions broken away.

Inasmuch as'this guard is a thing quite apart j roni any vessel which it"is designed to "protect, it is necessaryithat said guard o the c ge,wit

be selif sustaini-ng in the water, and be qllipp'e l wit ts own i rbp lii g a d t e ingmechanisms, and also that it furnish Whateverelectricity may be required for the operationflof the mine 'a'larm'andfor firing efaariigs; n h rt, a th g ard be quiteindependentstructurally and function'- ally, includingequipment, of anyvessel. Generally speaking, therefore, the guard 'consi'st .Oi a fioa ngcage 'having' gates to open and close, and provided with mine catchersituated well forward of said cage on apairof forwardllyextending rods1,

propellers 22, one torlealch' gate, driving mechanisin' and steer ngapparatus, means to lsupp'ly the requ red electricity for the severalcircuits, and the torpedo-destroying elements. A pilotfhouse 4 may bemounted,

at stern of theaiioresaid cage oneach side or on each of the 'aforesaidgates near their stern ends.

Inthefirst'view a vessel 5 is represented in outlinein the'cage,and"guydinesare represented at 6 as, extending between saidvesselandsaid cage; WVhe'n the cage'is open, as indicfated bybrokenlines, thefcase can bei'propelled 'forward away from the vessel 5, orthe latter'backed out ofsaid cage, on the one hand; and said cage can bepro pelled backward into inclosi ig relation to the el, or the latterdriven forward into said ge, on thecother handf Thef cagefor more.correctly perhaps the framefofthe cage, comprises Vshaped, topandbotto'in barsfor rails 7 and 8,, respectively, two top bars or rails10 which have their forward endshinged at1111 to the endsof said railsLand their rear terminals turned inwardly toward .each ,other and ar ofv'vhich' said rails form parts, are closed,

two bottom bars'orvrails13, each of which,

hasits forward end hinged at 141 to one end ofsaid' rail"8,, a pluralityof uprights 15 connecting the aforesaid top and bottom V- shaped rails,a plurality of uprights 16 connecting' said toprails 10 with said bottomrails 13, the latter having little or no projection at their rear end,beyond the rear uprights 16, a V-shaped rail 17 spaced from said rail 8and connected with said uprights 15, and a rail 18 on each side spacedfrom said :rail 13 on such side and connected with said uprights 16.This frame is supported in the water .on a plurality of pairs of floats19 attached to the ends of a pluerality of arms 20 which in turn areattached tothe undersidcs of the rails 7 and 10, such arms extendingcrosswise of said rails. A covering or casing is represented at 22, inFig. 6,, for the circuit-forming members which supply the electriccurrent'to certain cartric'lges 2 3 .in a series, when certain contactsor connections are made, as by a torpedo, as 2i in Fig. 5, striking orencountering one or moreof a series of vertical contact strips 25. TheContact strips 25 extend betweenthe bars 7 and 10 at the top and thebars 17 and 18 at the bottom. The middle portions of ,the strips 25 arebroken out in Figs. '9 and 10in order to economize space.

The V-sl a ed members and their connecting uprights form the prow andthe members hinged thereto constitute the gates of the page.

The cage is supported by the floats 19 quite low in'thefwater, so thatthe contact strips 25 are in the path .01 any torpedo that may be firedat the vessel ,5 and which would strike the same in the absence ofprotecting means, and the mine catcher is carried in position to do itswork .eilectually.

As the power-generating means I may provide. an internal-combustionengine 26 in each pilot house i, as ,a source of supply of the requiredelectric energy, which supply is of comparatively low voltage. A gcn--erator or dynamo :27 may be provided in either .orboth ofthe pilothousessee Figs. 3 and t. The engine 26 has a shaft 28 upon which aresecured two gears 29 and 30, the latter being a bevel-gear. A long,vertical, tubula member or Sleeve 31 is journaled in the floor of eachhouse i, and in a lug 32 that projects rea avardly from each of therails 18 at a point adjacent to the rcarmost upright 16 with which suchrail is connected. Secured on the sleeve 31, at the upper .end above thepilot-house floor, is a bevel-gear 33 which intermcshes with thebevel-gear 30. A bevel-gear 8i is secured on the sleeve 31, under thesupporting, hearing lu 32. A vertical, steering post 35 is journa ed atthe top in a bracket 36 which extends inwardly from the front side ofthe house l, passes down into and through the sleeye 31, and has acollar 37 secured on the lower, protruding terminal of said post. One ofthe propellers 2 is secured on the outer end of a .SlGGYfi 3.8 which ismounted on a rearwardly-extending axle 39 that has its forward endaiiixed in the collar 37. A bevel-gear a0 is secured on the horizontalsleeve 38, and intermeshes with the bevelgear 34. Thus it will be seenthat the propeller 2 is driven from the engine 26,thro11gh the medium ofthe shaft 28, bevel-gears 30 and 33, sleeve 31, bevel-gears 34 and 40,and sleeve 38. And it will be seen, furthermore, that the axle 39, withthe sleeve 38 and propeller 2 thereon, can be turned in either directionand to any required degree on a horizontal plane, for steering purposes,by means of the post 35, and collar 37. The sleeve 31 runs loosely onthe post 35, as does the sleeve 38 on the axle 39. In Fig. 3, the middleportions of the steering post 35 and the sleeve 31 are-broken out.

The steering post 35 is operated for steering purposes by means of apulley 41 secured to said post beneath the bearing bracket 36, a pulley42 secured on a horizontal shaft 43, a belt 44 connecting said pulleys,and a steering wheel 45 also secured on saidshaft, the latter beingjournaled in a bearing 46 on the front of the house 4, inside, and abear ing 47 supported from the floor of said house. The post 35is'rotated by the steering wheel 45 in either direction, according tothe direction given said wheel, through the medium of the shaft 43,pulley 42, belt 44, and pulley 41.

The propellers 2, with their driving and oscillatory or steeringmechanisms, drive and guide the cage in any direction, and also open andclose the gates of said cage to provide an entrance or exit for thevessel.

The dynamo 27 has a shaft 48 upon which is secured a gear 49 whichintermeshes with the gear 29. Said dynamo is thus driven from the engine26. There is an electric annunciator or bell in one or each of thehouses 4, one such bell being represented at 50 in Fig. 4. A circuitfrom and to the dynamo 27, through the bell 50, includes wires 51 and52, the latter being grounded on the frame. There is also anothercircuit from and to the dynamo, which circuit comprises wires 53 and54.' The wires 53 and 54 enter the casing 22 adjacent to one end andpass to the other end thereof. Although the casing 22 does not appear inFig. 1, the wires 53 and 54 are broken off in that view at the placeswhere they would enter said casing if present, because of theimpracticability of making a further showing of said wires in said view.The wire 51 terminates at its forward end at a contact bar 55.

Taking up next the mine catcher and alarm mechanism at the front end ofthe guard, and having special reference to'Figs. 1, 2, and 6, it will beobserved that therods 1 arebent upwardly at their front ends, andsupport thereon a cross-bar 56 which is provided. with the catching andcircuit-closing members, among which latter is included the contact bar55. The cross-bar 56 has forwardly-extending, laterally-divergent, end

pieces 5' 757, and between these a series of forwardly-prejecting lugs58. Each lug 58 has at its front end a head 59 which 1sequipped with apair of movable flukes 60;

Each head 59 is recessed or slotted to receive a pair of flukes 60, anda spring 61. The flukes 60 in each pair are pivoted at 62-62 to theirhead 59, and the spring 61 is arranged and adapted to bear on saidfiukes in such a manner that the front ends of thefiukes normally abutsaid head, as shown at 63 in Fig. 2, and their rear ends are separatedas widely apart as possible. The end flukes 60 in the set or seriesextend across the spaces between the projections 57 and the outermostlugs 58, nearly over to said projections, and the other fiukes extendacross the spaces between said lugs, nearly touching-each other in thecenters of such spaces.

The contact bar 55 is attached at the ends to but insulated from thecross-bar 56, as represented at 6464. tal, headed, push pins 65 arearranged in the crossbar 56 in front of the bar 55. When any pin 65 isforced back against the bar 55, the bell circuit is closed through saidbar and the frame. Normally the pins 65 are held out of contact withthebar 55, and said bell circuit is consequently open, by means ofsprings 66 on said pins between the cross-bar 56 and the members at therear ends of said pins. The front ends of the two end pins 65 areloosely connected with short arms 6767, which are pivoted at 68-68 tothe cross-bar 56, and two of the springs 66 are inserted between saidarms and the cross-bar 56, to retain said pins with their heads out ofcontact with the bar 55 and against said cross-bar. The front ends ofthe other pins are located in pairs in the spaces between the lugs 58,and such ends are connectedby short bars 69, with the springs 66 forsuch pins between said bars and the cross-bar 56. r

It is now plainly to be see-11 that, as the mine catcher is forcedforward through the water, ahead of the cage, any chain which connects asubmerged mine with a float, and which is in the path of the cross-bar56 and its end projections 57, such a chain being represented at 70 inFig. 2, is encountered by one of or perhaps two of the fiukes 60, suchfluke or flukes are forced inwardly toward the supporting lugs 58,swinging on their pivots 62 against the resiliency of their springs 61,and said chain is received within the space behind such flukes.Immediately the springs 61 act to close the entrance to the aforesaidspace, so that the chain 70 can not get out. The arm 67 or bar 69, asthe case may be, in the path of the chain '70, is carried forciblyagainst said chain, directly the latter is received either between oneof the projections 57 and the A series of horizon,

adjacent lug 58 or between twoadj acent lugs 58, with the result thatthe pin or ,pins 65 connected with said arm or bar, is orare actuatedrearwardly into contact with (the in- ;sulatedbar 55, the bell circuitis closed, and

the .bell 50:0aused to ring. Thebell-5O continues .to .ring until thepressure of the chain 70 on the sliding contact member or members .isremoved, which it is not liable to be until saidchain is released fromthe confining fluke or "flukes. The chain is dragged along by thecatcher, untilsuch time as the guard can be stopped, said chainreleased,

andthe mine at the endof said chain. taken careof in a manner to,prevent harm therefrom to the vessel .5.

I will now-describe in detail the cartridges 23 and the firing circuitstherefor, the latter being connected with thewires 53 and 5a which maybe said to form the main, firing circuit and fromwhich the others branchofi'.

The cartridges 23 are arranged in two rows on opposite sides of therails 7 and 10. Each cartridge 23 has al vertical flange 71 on one,side,'w-hich is dovetailed into a corresponding slot 72 in one side orthe other of the supporting rail. This dovetailed connection is tape-redso as to prevent the cartridge from dropping out of the rail atthebotto1nsee Fig. 8.

Each cartridge 23 is. divided by a horizontal partition 73 into upperand. underchambers 7 4c and 7 5., respectively, and has a primer orpercussion-cap 76 in the center thereof-see Fig, 7. An arm 77 on thepartition 73 supports a firing-pin 78 over the percussion-cap 7 6. Ahammer 79, for the firing-pin 78, is pivoted at 80 to a post 81 risingfrom the partition 73. A spring 82 is arranged between the partition 73and the hammer 7 9 to cause said hammer, when set, to strike thefiring-pin 78a sufficiently hard blow to cause thefpercussion-cap 76 tobe exploded by said pin. A trip .or latch 83 is pivoted at 84 to a lug85 on the partition 73,

and extends upwardly to engage the tail end of-the hammer 7 9 and retainthe head endof said hammer, against the resiliency of the spring 82, inelevated and striking position, until said latch is actuated to releasethe hammer to said springywhen'saidhammer is caused to strike the blowthat discharges plosive substance 89in the cartridge chamher 75,immediately under the partition 73 and the percussion-cap 76 therein,and a pro;

-jectile 90in said chamber under said BXPlOf sive substance. Theprojectile 90 may have at its exposed end or base a sharp-edged,arcuate, blade 91 designed especially for penetrating torpedoes.

The contact strips .25, as here represented, areifiat witlrtop andbottom rod-like terminalsor shanks 92 and 93, respectively. The strips.25 areanranged with their flat sides atrighbangles to the longitudinal,vertical planes of the bars which support said strips, because. in thisavay the strips are less liable to be broken by and aflord bettercontact sur faces for torpedoes. Said strips are in vertical planeswhich alternate with the vortical planes of the cartridges 23.

As clearly shown in Fig. 10, the upper terminal or shank 92 of eachstrip is received in a flanged, insulator bushing 9% in either rail 10(or the rail 7), and thelower terminal :or shank 93 of such strip isreceived in a flangechinsulator bushing 95 in either rail 18 .(ortherail 17). Each shank 93 is screwthreaded at the bottom to receive a nut90 which bears against the flanged end of the contiguous bushing 95.Mounted on the top of each shank 92, and separated from the flanged endof the bushing 91- below by an interposed spring 97, is an insulatorblock 98 which is equipped with two contact pieces 99. The contactstrips 25 are thus insulated from their supporting rails, and held upwith their nuts 90 against the bottom ends of the insulator bushings 95,by the springs 97, asshown in Figs. 9 and 10. In the event a contactstrip 25 is broken, its shank 92, with the part of said strip above thebreak, is forced upward by the associated spring 97, until the contactpieces 99 on the block9S on said shank come into contact withtwo contactpieces 101 and 102 above. The contact. pieces 101 and 102 are carried bya bar 103, but insulated from said bar as represented at 10% The bar 103is supported from therails 7 and 10, above the series of insulatorblocks 98, on posts 105. There is a series of binding-posts 1'06arranged in pairs on either rail 10, also on the rail 7.

In practice the parts above the rails 7 and 10 which have beendescribed, and also major-portions of the main, firing-circuit wires53and 541-, and of the branch, firing-circuit wires described below, arecontained in the casing 22.

A wire 107 leads from the wire 53 to each contact piece 101, and a wire108 leads from the wire 5% to each contact piece 102. Wires .109 connectthe wire 53 with alternate contact strips 25, and Wires 111 connect saidwire 53 with the lower binding-posts 88 on alternate cartridges; whilewires 110 connect the wire 54 with the intervening strips 25, and wires112 connect said wire 54: with corresponding binding posts on theintervenin cartridges. A wire leads from each end of each contact piece99 to the adjacent binding-post106, and awire 113 leads from such postto the upper binding-post 88 on the adjacent cartridge 23. A wire 114leads from the upper binding-post 88 011 each cartridge to the adjacentstrip 25. I v a v Assuming, now, that the torpedo 24, Fig. 5, thrustsits nose between any twoa'djacent contact strips 25, the circuitsthrough the two cartridges 23 (inside and outside) which are above saidnose or. through the electro-n1agnets 87 in said cartridges, are closedand said cartridges are fired; The two projectiles 90, thus dischargedupon the the nose of the torpedo below, strike the sameand render thetorpedo harmless,at least so far as the vessel 5 is concerned. The

I branch circuit closed by the torpedothrough two adjacent strips 25,between the wires 53 and 54, comprises either thewire 109 which leadsfrom said wire 53 to one of said strips,

or the two wires 111 which lead fromsaid wire 53 to the two cartridgesincluded in said branch circuit and which are fired,

the two wires 114 between said cartridges and one of said strips, andeither the wires 112 which lead from said cartridges to said wire 54, orthe wire 110 that leads from one of said strips to said wire 54,according to which pairof strips said torpedo contacts with,

If the right and left-hand strips 25, with which the torpedo contacts,are two which are connected with the wires 53 and 54 by twov of thewires 109 and 110, respectively, the 1 paths taken by the current inactuating the firing means are through the wire 53, the wires lllthatextend from said wire 53 to the cartridges fired, the wires 114 thatextend from said cartridges to said right-hand strip, through thelatter, said torpedo,said left-hand strip,

and the wires 110 and 54. And if the rightand left-hand strips 25, withwhich the torpedo contacts, are two which i are connected with the wires54 and 53 by two of the wires 110 and 109, respectively, the paths takenby the current in actuating the firing means are through said wires 53and 109, said left-hand strip, said torpedo, said right-hand strip, andwires 114 that extend from said right-hand strip to the cartridgesfired, the wires 112 that extend from said cartridges to saidwire 54,and the latter.

In case one of the strips. 25-be broken by the torpedo, the spring 97,which encircles the shank 92 of suchstrip, immediately acts to thrustthe partsincluding two of the contact pieces 99 upwardly and to forcethe broken Contact strip, and instantly said cartridges. are fired andtheir projectiles; discharged at the torpedo below; Each of two wire 53to the other two cartridges fired, one in front and one behind asbefore, the wires 113 that extend from said cartridges to two otherbinding-posts 106,the wires,

of said branch circuits, from the wire 53 to thewire 54, includes one ofthe wires 107, one each of the contact pieces 101and 99, one of thewires100, one of the bindingposts 106, one of the wires 113', and one of 1the wires 112, and each of the other two of saidbranch circuits, fromsaid wire 53 to said wire 54, includes one each of the wires 111,113,and 100, one of the contact pieces '99 and the contact piece 102 which 1the piece 99 is hearing against, and one of the wires 108. 7

en one of the strips 25 broken and the contact pieces 99 above thebroken strip are thrust against the companion contact -to the wire 54;and from the wire 53 through the wire 111 that extends from said 100that extend from said binding-posts 'to the contact piece 99 that iscontiguous with said contact piece 102, through said contact pieces, andthe wire 108 that extends from said contact piece 102 to said wire 54. p

The operation of the guard as awhole will be very well understood fromthe foregoing description, so that little further need be said in regardto the same. When a vessel is to be inclosed, the gates are swung openand either said vessel is run into said guard while the latter 1sstationary or comparatively so, or said guard is backed under its ownpower into inclosing position. Then the gates are closed, and theguyropes 6 are made fast to the vessel, The latter now continues on itsway, either with or without the assistance of "the motive power withwhich the guard 1s provided. If a mine chain is encountered, 1t iscaught and the alarm given, as previously explained. Or, if a torpedo befired atthe vessel, the same is destroyed or prevented from damaging thevessel, in the manner hereinbefore set forth in detail. In the-firstiinstance the bell 50 continues to ring until the pressure of thechainon either one of the arms 67 or one of the bars 69 isremoved, sothat the displaced pin or pins can be actuated, by the controllin springor springs 66, out elf contact with the. ban Aind inthe; second:instance, only: the cartridges -23 ina the branch circuits a ffectediare discharged. 'Ehesedischarged cartridges are subsequently replaced;

; T he connections between the cartridges v23 areof a nature-,tohold;said cartridges in place-when fired; 1 d

When, the protection of the a guard for the vessel is nolonger needed,the guy-ropes 6 10,:ane thrown off, the gates.- are: opened, and

the-vessel or, guard is? maneuvered: to separate the one from theother.]

The-mine catcherjvandi alarnrrv might be omitted, but they of: great;advantage 5 d f rably-and usually, will be: retained.

It.-is obvious: that, separate: bells and: circuits-ion the severahmine-catcher units: may be prpvided if desired, in ordervtodisclose withwhich of suchiunitsa; chain is: caught.

The ciryeuit-formingaand: other members which are mounted on' the .rails7 and 10 and passouer the hinge 1 connections at: 1 1, :must besufficiently loose and; flexible or break joints, according to, their;nature, so as not 25,tog interfere with; the articulationa of" thegates, of, which said rails 10 constitute P rt -1* What I: claimas myinvention, and desire tosecureby, Letters; Batent, is a 7 1 'llhe;eonbination ,,in a; guardlfor vessels, with a partially submergedfloatingskeleton frame capable-of inclosing a vessel,

and explosive members. carried: by said frame, of a-sourceoirelectricalrenergy, and

3-5; cilcuitg-forming members. to, explode said first-named members;when the circuit through said;-circuit;- forming; members. is closed,asgby; contact With-the lattenof a torpedo.

2. v The combination, in as guard; for ves- 6 W h 4 partially, submergedfloating skeletonframe capable of inclosin-g :a "vessel, and aiseriesrof explosive members carried by said; fr e, ofi a sourceofl(51'GCbIlG3J1G1T- zergy, and; A i 'EfOIHAi-Hg members to; ex

.plode. certain of; saidfirs'tru'amed' members in saidgseries, when andaccordingly: as the circuit throughl said; circuiteforming members is-clcsed- 3. The combinatiomin a guard for-vessels, with a, partiallysubmerged floating skeletoneframe capable of inclosing a vessel, aseries of;explo sive members carried by said; frame, ofa; isourceofelectrical energy, 55 and circuiteforming members to. explode certain015,- said-*- first named members; in said ser es {wh n and:accordingly. as stli'e circuit snsed gh, two of said circuit-forming mbers- 4-. The-combination, in a 5 guard 2 for 1 vessels, witlra,partially, submerged floating frame and series-ofexplosive memberscarried byssaid frame, ofa sourceofzelectrical; energy, and;circuiteforming members to explode certain of said first-nam ed membersin said: series, when and accordingly as the circuit is closed bythe-breal'iing of'one of said circuit-forming members.

5. The combination, in aguard for vessels with a partially submergedfloating frame, and a series of explosive members carried by said frame,of a source of electrical: energy, and circuit-forming members toexplode certain of saidfirst-named members in said series, when andaccordingly asthe circuit is closed through two of said circuitformingmembers, and to explode certainof said first-named members insaidseries, by thebreakingofione of said circuit-forming members.

6. The'combination, in; a guard for vessels, with a partially submergedfloating skeleton frame capable of 'inolosi'ng a vessel,

andicartridges carried by said frame, of'a series of contact-membersattached to but insulated from said frame, a source ofelectriealienergand circuit-forming members connecting such source withsaid contact members'and saidcartridges, the construction andarrangement ofparts being such that the circuit maybe closed bycontacting connectionsbetween any two of said contact'members whichare-adjacent to each other, to explode" said-cartridge.

7. The combination, in a guard for. vessels, with a partially submerged"floating frame, and cartridges carried 'by 'said fran' e,

of a series-of contact members attached-to but insulated fromsaid'fran'ie, a sourcelof electrical energy, and circuit formin'gmembers-connecting such source with said contact membersandsaidcartridges, the construction and' arrangement ofparts being suchthatthe circuit may be closed by breakingany one of I said contactmembers, to 'explode said cartridges.

8; The combination, in a guard for vessels, with a' partially submergedfloating frame, and cartridges carried by said frame,

of a series of contact members attachedto butdnsulated-from-said frame,a source of electrical energy, and circuit-formingmemberscon-nectingsu'ch source, with said nc'ontaet'members andsaid'cartridges, the conand fire said cartridge, upon the breaking ofsaid contact member and release of part thereof to said spring.

10. In a guard for vessels, a partially submerged floating frame,cartridges carried by said frame, a contact member attached to butinsulated from said frame, a spring tending to urge said member in onedirection, insulated contact pieces carried by said contact member, asource of electrical energy, and circuit-forming members, the latterconsisting in part of insulated contact pieces located in the paths ofsaid first-named contact pieces, when the latter are projected towardthe same, upon the breaking of said contact member and release of partthereof to said spring, whereby the circuit is closed and saidcartridges are fired.

11. In a guard, for vessels, a partially submerged floating frame,cartridges carried by said frame, and electrical means to fire saidcartridges, such means consisting in part of circuit-forming membersinterposed between a vessel within said frame and any torpedo that maybe accurately fired thereat, and capable of closing the firing circuitswhen contacted with by such torpedo.

12. The combination, in a guard for vessels, with a partially submergedfloating frame, contact members attached to but insulated from saidframe, and cartridges car ried by said frame in alternate relationshipto said members, of electrical means to fire the cartridges between thevertical planes of any two adjacent contact members when connected, asby contact therewith of a terpedo.

tridges on both sides of the vertical plane a of any contact member, inthe event such member be broken, such means including circuit-closingmembers in operative position relative to any projected part of a brokencontact member.

14. The combination, in a guard for vessels, with a partially submergedfloating frame, contact members attached to but insulated from saidframe, means to project a part of any of said contact members which maybe broken, as by the impact therewith of a torpedo, and cartridgescarried by said frame in alternate relationship to said members, ofelectrical means to fire the cartridges between the vertical planes ofany two adjacent contact members when connected, as by contact therewithof a torpedo, and electrical means to fire the cartridges on both sidesof the vertical plane of any contact member, in the event such member bebroken, such means including circuit-closing members in operativerelation to any proj ected part of a broken contact member.

JOSEPH E. RUZYCKI.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, CONSTANT WALSKI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

